Safety device for presses



SAFETY DEVICE FOR PRESSES Filed May 15, 1920 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 3 1926.

' P. KUCERA SAFETY DEVICE FOR Pnmsss Filed May 15, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

rseisn ,Pel-TENT ersten,

PETER'KUCERA, or connettere@ esnlierwerie eeSIeNQMQ CeesTAueLesS,

COMP-enr, `or GQNNELLSWLLE; @Messwert-11e, e Ceeeeeffelr Q1? SAFETY DEVICE emesse- Applieatiqnledlvfay 15, 119%); Serial Np; 381,575;

This inventionrelates broadiy to presses presses.`

The principal Aobject ofthe present invention is a safety device to stop the normal opera-tion of the pressing mechanism when an abnormal amount oi" niater-l'alis acc1den- 'tally retained between they pressing1nembers. e

Another object oi' the present invention is Ithe provision of a safety device for preventing injury Yto trie pressingmechanism when the materialbeine pressed sticks-0r is caught'4 *byV one of -the pressing 'members whereby an abnormal ain'ount'ot'` pressing materialv Ymight" be lcollected between the pressing members'during the continuation @the machine.

`A stilliurther and important object ot' the present inventionis a safety* device for machines for pressingl glass. lwherein the pressing operation is automatically stopped when a charge of glasssticlks to one 'of 'the pressing members. A Another and important object of the presentinvention Vcomprises a safety device for glass presses utilizing aplunger' and Wherein the press is Vantoi-natically `stopped'vvhen glassatllieies to the plunger, and it must be manually reset for 'further operation.

A." still' further object of thepre'sent inifentionisjthe provision of a satetydevi'ce ior a glass press, wherein the pressing functiony isI automatically stopped when glass adheres tol the plunger Dld wherein the molde continue tobe' presented at asuitable charging station to carry away' glass charges which maybe presented -to the press, While the press is nottunctioning to produce iinish'ed Ware.

Other and further objects of the present invention Will iii part beobvious; and will in part' be pointed out hereinafter and by reference to the accompanying drawings iorining a ,parthereof and ivhfere'in like parts u represented 'lilef characters throughout the'several figures.

Realizing thatthe-present invention may he embodied in Aconstru@tions otherl than those speciiically shown and described,- it iste' be understood that the description and drawings disclose one ferm of the-present invention and that: 'this disclosure t`0 be considered asil-lustrative and netto be taken 'in the liiniti'ng'sense Figure l is a inoi'e'or View illiistrating a complete organization comprising one torni of the present invention;

kFigure 23 is a detail sectional vie-W of a portion of the safety operating device With the fee'lerfv iingefr Withdrawn;v

Figure 3 is a ligure similarv to Figure 2 lessl diagrammatical sl'iewing the ifeeler77 finger being operated dueto a charge of' glass adhering to the plunger;

Figure 4 isA a sectional detail plan vieW illustrating the mounting for the safety operating finger mechanism" whereby the saine-may. be adjusteda-s be required; inthe operation of pressing mechanism, particularly] glass presses, it sometimes happens thattlie'inaterial pressed Willi adhere to one `of the molding' or pressing-members. `Where thel press isautomatically'ted, `es glass presses usualiyware5 the sticking of a charge to one ofthe'pressinglinemberscauses a large overcharge to be presented for the succeeding pressing operation. This overcharge maycause' the press to` be badly strained lor even broken and unless the press innnediatelyV stopped the accumulation continues until seriouslinjury to the mechanisinis almost certain 4to result: In pressing glasswareit is necessary that the iinish on the pressingor niol-dingi parts must'be maintained,. otherwise thefwa're produced ivill be of inferior quality. YlNh'en glass sticks-to the ineldingparts it'y quickly. hardens and the next pressing operation crushes the hardenedglass and'scratches or: injures the molding'elements so that itis necessary to repiace'tlhese parts to continue-the oper'- ation oi" the machine to inalre'highrquality Ware. Glass presses, as above stated,y are commonly automatically fed and in the inenutactureot' glass by theuse of autoeniat'ic feeders endl automatic presses there area number of .constant conditions which inust be maintained in order to satisfactorily' produce ware,` andiiic these conditions are chsturbed it entails a great lossy ottime to bring the conditionsback to normal. ,i One of the most critical elements in the production of glass by automatic machinery is the element relating tov feeding the glass from the furnace to the press. If a feed is stopped the glass tends to freeze and it may require a serious loss of time in order to have the glass running againgafter it has been stopped. If the glass runs too rapidly from the furnace it becomes too limpid for the pressing operation and must be cooled before production can be resumed. In View of these facts it is desirable that the glass feed continue normally even though the press may be disabled temporarily. lVhere glass sticks to the plunger of the press it is necessary that this glass be removed before the next pressing operation. At the same time, as above stated, it is desirable to have the feed mechanism continue to deliver glass. ln order to att-ain this result the present rinvention provides for merely stopping the operation at the pressing station of the press, but does not interfere lwith the step by step rotation of the press whereby molds are successiveiy presented to the charging station beneath the feeder. lfVhen the pressing is stopped in order to clear the glass which has adhered tothe pressing mechanism the press operator merely removes the charges from the molds as they pass and as soon as he has cleared awayy the adhered charge from the` plunger, or mold,

the press is thrown back into normal operation and operation is immediately resumed. The present invention also provides that when glass does adhere, the pressing device is automatically cut out and the pressing operation cannot be resumed without manual resetting of the parts.

One embodiment of the present invention may comprise a commercial type kof glass press having a step by step rotated table carrying relatively movable pressing members-comprising a plunger and a series of suitable matrix molds. The relative movement between these parts is usually accomplished by compressed air and the parts are usually controlled by a timing mechanism. The present invention contemplates connecting the timing mechanism withv a suitable feeler finger so that this finger moves 'forward between each pressing operation to determine if the pressing members are clear.

The linger is moved very closely to, but

without contact with the pressing mechanism, preferably the plunger near its lower end7 and if the plunger is clear the pressing operation continues. If any glass adheres to the plunger the finger',` in striking the glass, automatically operates to cut off the power from the pressing station. so that the pressing will not be resumed until the mechanism is manually reset, thereby preventing any breakage due to pressing when glass is adhering to the parts of the forming devices.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figure l, a commercial press l is provided with the usual plunger stem 2 which carries the plunger head 4 which is adapted to cooperate with the matrix mold 5. This mold also cooperates with the usual ring mold 6 and the operating mechanism therefor. The matrix mold 5 in the present illustration is one of a series which is carried by a rotatable mold table 7 and is adapted to be lifted by the piston rod 8 of the pressing cylinder 9 to mold a suitable charge of glass between the walls of the matrix mold 5 and the plunger head 4 when the molds are properly positioned at the pressing station. The pressing cylinder 9 is operated in the usual manner by compressed air fed through the pipes l0 and 11 and controlled by a suitable timing mechanism 1.2 such as is common in the art. This timing mechanism is fed by a main air line 14 and controls the operations of the press. The feeler finger mechanism comprises a cylinder l5 which is mounted upon the press uprights 16 and 'i7 and is connected with the timer l2 by means of the pipes 18 and 19. This cylinder (Figs. 2 and 3) is provided with a piston 2O which is connected with the hollow piston rod 2l, in which is mounted feeler finger 22 which comprises the stem for an ai-r valve 24. The hollow piston rod 21 extends through a cylindrical neck 25 which may be carried by the cylinder head 26 and the hollow piston rod 2l is slotted as aty 27. From Figure 3 it will be noted that the slots 27 lie within cylindrical neck 25 when the piston 2O is in its forward position and if any yglass 28' is adhering to the plunger head 4 it will be noted that the valve 24 is opened, thereby permitting the air back of the piston 2O to escape into the cylindrical neck 25 and since this neck is connected by a pipe 29 with an air cylinder 30 the compressed air .back of the piston is immediately admitted tothe cylinder 30. This cylinder 30 carries a suitable'piston 3l which is connected with the piston rod 32 that is adapted to engage the operating lever 34 of the cut-off valve 35 in the main line 11 to the pressing cylinder so that when the compressed air enters the aircylinder 30 the piston 3l and piston rod 32 move forward to actuate the lever 34, whereby the operating air to the main cylinder is cutoff. The air cylinder 30 is provided ywith'. a vent valve B6 so that the air in the cylinder may escape to permit the parts to be reset after the device has once functioned. The lever 34 is not attached to the piston rod 32, and therefore it is necessary to manually reset the lever to open the cutofi valve 35. This is an added advantage because the resetting is therefore deliberate on the part of the operator.

Referring noW to, Figure 4;, Which is an plan' vievv of the eelerl linger operating mechanism, it Will be noted that the` cylinderl 15 is mounted upon the cressarm 37 by stub bolts 38 which cooperate vvith slots39I in the flanges Ll0 on the cylinder. This mounting permits'adjustment ofv the device to and from the axis of the plunger` head 4 inordcr to accommodate for diiierent size plunger-s which may be used. The cross arm 37 is inountedupon the press uprights 16 and 17, by suitablev clamp sleeves Ll1 to permit a ver ticaliadjustment ot the feelei linger in order that-this linger may cooperate With the lower portion of` ,the plunger head 4l and be adjustable for different lengt-hs ot plunger heads. lt Will be understood that the pipe connections to these adjustable part-s are flexible, asis common in the art where tlexin bility is required.

In' the Aoperation oi the .present device it will be noted that the `timing mechanism is so arranged that the feeler7 linger goes for- Wardl just prior to the pressing operation. lllhile the plunger -l is cleary the press continues to function normally. lf any glass sticks to thc plunger (as shownin Fig. 3) the teeler Enger Icontacts with this glass, thereby opening the airline Which leads to the controlairfcylinder 3.0 and which cylinder closes the main air line llto `the pressing cylinder; consequently the pressing mechaniE-:m isdisabled, and while 'the press table will continue to rotate inthe step by step motion, the charges being fed to the molds will remain impressed, and the operator removes the vunpressed charges from the molds until the pressiscleared. After.l the ychilled. glass has been removed from the plunger the operator` reopens the cut-od valve `and normal operation of the press is resumed. lt will be noted thatthe present.mechanismin no `Way disturbs the function of the feed mechanism or of the parts, other than thepressing operation. Having thus described my invention, what l claim is:

1.l In a glass machine. and the like, the com bine-tion of a matrix' mold, a plunger adaptable to enter said matrix mold, means'for causing a relativ-e movementbetvveen said plunger and said matrix mold, a detector cylinder mounted adjacent said plunger with the axisl ot said cylinder' substantially at rightangles to the axisv of saidplunger, a piston within said cylinder, a Vhollow slotted piston rodrconnected to said piston and lextending toward said plunger, a feeler linger Within said hollow piston rod, a valve connected with said teeler finger and adapted `to be lifted to .permit pressure back `ot said pis ton to escape through slots in said hollow piston rod, a timing 'mechanism controlling said meansanclbeing operatively connected to?. said cylinder, and devices operatively connected with' saidk valveV 'to renden said means inoperative? when said-L` 'valve is raised.

2. In a glass machine and the li-kethe, combination of a matrix mold, a rotatable table carrying said mold, a plunger adaptable to enter' said matrix mold, means 'for causing a relative movement between said plunger and said matrix mol-d, a detector` cylinder mounted adjacent said plunger with the axis of said cylinder substantial-ly. at right angles to the axis of said plunger, a piston Within said` cylinder, a hollen7 slotted piston rod connected to'y said piston .and extending toward said plunger, a feeler iinger Within said hollow piston rod, a valve connected with said 'teeler finger and adapted to be lifted to permit pressure back oit' said piston to, escape throughslotsin said hollow pistonrod, a timingmechlnismconf trolling said'means and beingA operatively connected to said cylinder, anddevices operf atively connected with said valve to render said means inoperative lWhen said valvefis raised, and Without stopping said table.

3. In a glass machine and the like, the combination of a matrix mold, a plunger adapt.- able to enter said matrix mold, means ,com-` prising a pneumatic rain for causing a relative movement between said plunger and said matrixmold, a detector cylinder mount; ed adjacent said plunger With the axis of said'cylinder substantially at rightl angles to the axis of said plunger, a piston Within said cylinder, a hollow slotted piston rod connected to said piston and extending toward said plunger, a feeler-finger Within said hollow Vpiston rod, a valve connected with Said e'eler linger and adapted to be liftedto .permit pressure back of said piston to escape through slots in said hollow piston rod, a timing mechanism controlling said means and beingoperatively connected tosaid cy-l inder -to admit air to said cylinder prior to the operation of said rain, and devices ,operativel-y connected l with said valve to render said means inoperative `when said valve is raised.

4. In a glass, machine and the like, the

combination of a matrix mold, a plunger adaptable to enter said matrix mold', means for causing, a relative movement between said plunger and said matriz; mold, a `detector cylinder mounted adjacent said plunger with the anis of said ,cylinder substantially at right angles to the axis of said plunger, means to adjust. said cylinder relatively to said plunger, a piston Within said cylinder, a hollow slotted piston rod connected to said piston and extending toward said plunger, a iieeler linger Within said hollowA piston rod, a valve connected with said veelenV linger and adapted to be lifted kto Ipermit pressure back otfsaid piston to escape through slots in said hollow piston rod, a timing mechanismc'onilo trolling said means and being` operatively connected to said cylinder, and devices operatively connected with said valve to render said means inoperative when said valve is raised.

5. in a glass machinev and the like, the combination of a matrix mold, a rotatable table carrying said mold, a plunger adaptable to enter said matrix mold, means comprising a pneumatic 'am for causing a relative'movement between said plunger and said matrix mold, a detector cylinder mounted adjacent saidplunger with the axis otsaid cylinder substantially at right angles to the axis o'l' said plunger, a piston within. said cylinder, a hollow slotted piston rod connected to said piston and extending toward said plunger, a feeler linger within said rholn` low piston rod, a valve connected with said i'eeler finger and adapted to be lifted to permit pressure back or said piston to escape through slots in said hollow piston rod, a timing mechanism controlling said means and being operatively connected to said cylinder, and devices operatively connected with said valve to render said means inoperative when said valve israised and without stopping said table.

6. ln a glass machine and the like, the combination of a matrix mold, a rotatable table, a plunger adaptable to enter said matrix mold, means comprising a. pneumatic ram for causing a relative movement between said plunger and said matrix mold, a de tector cylinder mounted adjacent said plunger with the axis of said cylinder substantially at right angles o the axis of said plunger, means to adjust said cylinder relatively to said plunger, a piston within said cylinder, a hollow slotted piston rod connected to said piston and extending toward said plunger, a ieelerv finger within said hollow piston rod, a valve connected with said feeler linger and adapted to be lifted to permit pressure back of said piston to escape through slots in said hollow piston rod, a timing mechanism cont-rolling said means and being operatively connected to said cylinder to admit air to said cylinder prior to the operation of said ram, and devices operatively connected with said valve to render said means inoperative when said valve is raised, and without stopping said table.-

7. In a glassmachine andthe like, the combination yoit' a matrix mold, an intermittently rotatable table upon Awhich said mold is mounted, a plunger adaptable to enter said matrix mold, means for causing a relative movement between said plunger and said matrix mold, Aa detector comprising a teeler linger adapted to be moved toward and adjacent to said plunger; a piston for actuating said finger, a valve connected with said i'eeler linger and adapted to be lifted when said linger strikes an obstruction to permit pressureback of said piston to pass under said valve, a timing mechanism controlling said means and being adapt-ed to operate said piston, and devices operatively connected with said valve to render said means inoperative when said'valve is raised. s

8. In a pressing mechanism or the like, orminrrr members, a rotatable table carrying certain ci' said members, means to operate the forming members to mold plastic material between said'orming'members, anda detecting device operable to render said means inoperative when the molded material sticks to a certain one or' the forming members, without stopping the rotation of said table. i f

9. ln a pressing mechanism or the like, tor-ming members, a rotatable table carrying certain of said members, means comprising a pneumatic. ram to operate the 'forming members to mold plastic material between said forming members, anda detecting device actuated between molding operations and operable to render said ram inoperative when the molded material sticks to a certain one o'if the forming members, without stopping the rotation ot said table.

i0. ln a glass .pressing mechanism, a matrix mold, a plunger adapted to enter said matrix mold, means for causing a relative movement between said plunger and said mold to press glass in the said mold, in combination with a detector mechanism comprising a cylinder mounted adjacent said plunger, a piston within said cylinder, a valve in the head oft said piston, a eeler linger connected with said valve, devices to operate said eeler linger in such manner that said eeler finger will contact with any material kbetween the limit of travel of the end of said l'eeler finger and said plunger, and mechanism operated by said valve to render said means .inoperative when said eeler linger meets ani-obstruction.

1l. ln a glass pressing mechanism, a matrix mold, a plunger adapted to enter said matrix mold, means tor causing a relative movement between said plunger and said mold to press glass in the said mold, in 4Qombination with a detector mechanism 'omprisingv a cylinder mounted adjacent said' plunger, devices to adjust said cylinder vertically, a piston within said cylinder, a valve in the head of said piston, a eeler'tinger connected with said valve, devices to operate said 'feeler linger in such manner that said iieeler linger will contact with any material between the limit of travel of the end of said 'eeler finger and said plunger, and mechanism operated by said valve to render said 1 means inoperative 'when said eeler nger meets an obstruction.

12.111 a glass pressing mechanism, a matrix mold, a plunger adapted to enter said matrix mold, means -for causing a relative movement between said plunger and said mold to press glass in the said mold, in combination with a detector mechanism comprising a cylinderl mounted adjacent said plunger, a piston within said cylinder, a valve in the head of said piston, devices to adj ust said cylinder horizontally, a. feeler finger connected with said valve, devices to operate said feeler finger in such manner that said eeler finger will contact with any material between the limit of travel o1" the end of said feeler finger and said plunger, and mechanism operated by said valve to render said means inoperative when said 'eeler nger meets an obstruction.

18. ln a glass pressing mechanism, a matrix mold, a plunger adapted to enter said matrix mold, means for causing a relative movement between said plunger and said mold to press glass in the said mold, in combination with a detector mechanism comprising a cylinder mounted adjacent said plunger, devices to adjust said cylinder vertically, a piston within said cylinder, a valve in the head ot said piston, means to adjust said cylinder horizontally, a leeler inger connected with said valve, devices to operate said feeler finger, in such manner that said eeler finger will Contact with any material between the limit of travel of the end of said teeler iinger and said plunger, and mechanism operated by said valve to render said means inoperative when said eeler finger meets an obstruction.

14. In a pressing mechanism, forming members, operating means to cause a relative movement between said forming members to mold plastic material between said members in combination with a detecting device movable to a position adjacent one of said forming members after each pressing operation,

tecting device to render the said operating means inoperative when material sticks to a certain forming member in the path of said detecting device.

16. In a glass press and the like, the combination of a matrix mold and plunger adapted to enter said matrix mold, means for causing a relative movement between said plunger and said mold for pressing` glass between the plunger and mold, a feeler finger adapted to be projected into proximity of the plunger during the interval between pressing operations, a valve normally closed and adapted to be `opened by said eeler finger when there is any substance of predetermined thickness between the limit of travel of the ringer and saidplunger, a cylinder provided with a piston operatively connected with said valve in such manner that when said valve is open fluid is admitted to said cylinder to move said piston, and disabling mechanism for said means being operated by said piston to render said means inoperative when said valve is open.

PETER KUCERA.V 

